Text in Afrikaans / The purpose of the research was to determine the extent to which health issues, and particularly work stress, are managed at a welfare organization. The group investigated consisted of 49 registered social workers employed at nine welfare organizations in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The research process was directed by quantitative research, the research information being obtained through a literature study and structured questionnaire. A number of health issues were identified in the workplace. Based on the empirical investigation it was concluded that health management does not enjoy a high priority at welfare organisations. The health issues that have the most impact on the respondents' work ability are work stress and burnout. It is recommended that organisations compile a holistic policy for health management. There is a need for implementation of employee assistance and wellness programmes for health management. Such programmes promote the productivity and general wellbeing of social workers. / Die doel van die navorsingstudie was om te bepaal tot watter mate gesondheidskwessies, in die besonder werkstres, by 'n welsynsorganisasie bestuur word. Die ondersoekgroep het bestaan uit 49 geregistreerde maatskaplike werkers werksaam by nege welsynsorganisasies in die Nelson Mandela Metropool. Die navorsingsproses is deur kwantitatiewe navorsing gerig en die navorsingsinligting is met behulp van 'n literatuurstudie en gestruktureerde vraelys bekom. Daar word tans 'n aantal gesondheidskwessies in die werkplek geidentifiseer. Na aanleiding van die empiriese ondersoek is daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat gesondheidbestuur nie 'n hoe prioriteit geniet by welsynsorgnisasies nie. Die gesondheidskwessies wat die mees beduidende impak op die respondente se werkvermoe het, is werkstres en uitbranding. Daar word aanbeveel dat organisasies 'n holistiese beleid ten opsigte van gesondheidsbestuur opstel. Daar is 'n behoefie aan die implementering van werknemerhulp- en werknemerwelstandprogramme vir gesondheidsbestuur omdat sulke programme die produktiwiteit en algemene welstand van maatskaplike werkers kan bevorder. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

Afrikaans text / Die doel van die navorsingstudie was om die voorkoms en hantering van stressors en stres by welsynsorganisasies in die Boland streek te ondersoek ten einde aanbevelings aan die Bestuur van welsynsorganisasies te maak met die oog op voorkoming en vermindering van stres in die werksplek. Vyftien (15) welsynsorganisasies en agtien (18) maatskaplikewerkbestuurders in die Boland streek is by die ondersoek betrek. Slegs veertien (14) maatskaplikewerkbestuurders het aan die ondersoek deelgeneem. Die navorsingsproses is deur kwantitatiewe navorsing gerig en die navorsinginligting is met behulp van literatuurstudie en ‘n gestruktureerde vraelys bekom. Na aanleiding van die empiriese ondersoek is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat Maatskaplikewerkbestuurders in die Boland streek werkstres ervaar en dat die meeste privaat-; en staatswelsynsorganisasies nie oor programme vir die voorkoming van stres beskik nie. Daar word aanbeveel dat die Bestuur van welsynsorganisasies die verantwoordelikheid moet neem om stres in die werksplek te bestuur deur die daarstelling van stres voorkomingstrategieë. / The purpose of this research study was to investigate the occurrence of stressors and stress in the private-; as well as government welfare organisation in the Boland region and to make recommendations to the Management of welfare organisations regarding the prevention and decrease of stress in the workplace. Fifteen (15) welfare organisations with eighteen (18) social work managers were approached, but only fourteen (14) participated in the investigation. The research process was directed by quantitative research and research information being obtained through literature study and a structured questionnaire. With reference to the empirical study, it was established that social workers in the Boland region experience stress in the workplace and most of the welfare organisations do not have stress prevention programmes available for social work personnel. It is recommended that the Management of welfare organisations institute stress management programmes with the focus on management of stress through stress prevention strategies. / Social Work / M.A. (SS)

Changing working conditions in South Africa are currently characterised by various challenges to individuals in the workplace, such as affirmative action, voluntary severance packages and discharges. Discharges are often associated with employment insecurity and threatening loss of employment. Insecurity about employment can be very stressful to remaining workers after a discharge process. Their lack of control over what happens to them, can lead to high levels of stress and deteriorating attitudes in the workplace. Insecurity about employment may last for months or even years and could have a negative influence on not only the “mental health” of the individual worker, but also on their entire existence. A psychological approach to threatening loss of employment on its own is inadequate. The spiritual needs of human beings should also be taken into account. Therefore pastoral care and support should be available to people in order to help them to cope effectively with painful, frustrating and frightening situations. The threat of loss of employment requires a holistic approach to helping. At present holistic approaches include emphases on holistic medicine, meditation, prayer and the role of spiritual healing. Pastoral care is increasingly taking note of what is happening in the secular professions and how it can be supportive. This development challenges the practical theologian to be part of a multi-disciplinary approach when dealing with people who are subject to the threat of loss of employment. The aim of this study is to examine the possibilities of a holistic approach as part of pastoral support to persons experiencing threatening loss of employment. Although pastoral care can benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach to threatening loss of employment, this cooperation is not a simple or straightforward matter. Pastoral care is in need of guidelines for its relationship with psychology and for how to deal with faith in the counselling process. In order to provide some guidelines for pastoral care for individuals who feel a protracted threat of loss of employment, this study will make use of Gerkin’s model for pastoral care which will be brought into dialogue with a cognitive behavioural therapeutic model. Pastoral care should not focus on only “problem-solving”, but the counsellee should experience that healing takes place within the “pastoral relationship”. In this “relationship” the counsellee should always be reassured that human suffering cannot separate people from the love of God as it was revealed in Christ. Pastoral care may never lose sight of the Christian traditions that shaped its identity and should strive for an approach to counselling in which the Bible as testimony to God’s love is taken seriously. Pastoral care should take the lead in involving the Christian community in caring for one another and for the human needs in the wider community. A strong, healing Christian community that is open to the challenges and opportunities in secular society can make a contribution to a global partnership. / Dissertation (MA (Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Practical Theology / MA / unrestricted

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie navorsingstudie was om te bepaal of daar 'n verwantskap tussen stres en die persoonlikheidsweerstandsbronne koherensiesin, gehardheid en lokus van beheer is. Middelvlakbestuurders (n=103) het selfbeoordelingsvraelyste oor stres, sin vir koherensie, gehardheid en lokus van beheer voltooi. Die resultate van die Pearson produkmoment korrelasie en chi-kwadraattoetse toon dat daar 'n statisties beduidende verwantskap tussen stres en koherensiesin, gehardheid en lokus van beheer is. Dit blyk dat middelvlakbestuurders met 'n sterk koherensiesin beter in staat is om stres te hanteer as bestuurders met 'n lae koherensiesin. Hierdie bestuurders maak dus sin uit werkstressors en beskou lewenseise as betekenisvol en uitdagend. Die resultate dui aan dat bestuurders met 'n hoe inteme lokus van beheer en outonomie minder stres ervaar en beter toegerus is om die negatiewe invloed van stres teen te werk as bestuurders met 'n lae lokus van beheer en outonomie. Volgens hierdie navorsing het gehardheid nie 'n invloed op die ervaring van stress. / The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between stress and the resiliency sources of sense of coherence, hardiness and locus of control. Managers (N=l 03) at middle management level completed self-report questionnaires on stress, sense of coherence, hardiness and locus of control. Results from the Pearson product moment correlation and chisquare tests, indicate a statistical significant relationship between stress and sense of coherence, hardiness and locus of control. It seems as if managers at middle management level with a strong sense of coherence experience lower levels of stress than managers with a low sense of coherence. These managers derive sense from work stressors and view life's demands as meaningful and challenging. These results indicate that managers with a strong internal locus of control and autonomy will be better equipped to cope with stress than managers with a low locus of control and autonomy. According to this study hardiness does not have an effects on stress. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

An investigation into stress experience and the use of coping skills by departemental heads of schools: guidelines for support. Stress occurs when one's perception of demands exceeds his perception of his abilities to meet them. Except for work related demands, a variety of demands and threats in the environment have to be faced continuously. As a result stress is created that manifest in people's behavior, work efficiency and socialization. In general, the education profession is considered among the most stressful careers in the world. This also applies to the South African educational system. U'hm teachers experience stress, it has a negative effect on their beloved ones. colleagues and the learners. Therefore teacher stress has a negative effect on the teaching system in general. Thus teacher stress can be considered to be a national problem. The real situation of teachers in South Africa was determined by means of an empirical study that \\as complimented by a qualitative investigation. In this study. stress is dealt with from the educational psychology. However. stress is a holistic multi-dimensional concept that can only by understood at best when it is approached from a multi-professional point of view. Equally all the actions to cope with stress are rnultidimensional actions. This research aims to develop among teachers an awareness of stress manifestations. with the purpose to identi6 and control stressors. These actions are strengthened by appropriate adaptations in life style and the management of resources. A comprehensive support program is suggested to guide teachers towards an understanding and control of stress. and the establishment of a social support system. while serious manifestations of stress should be addressed by means of professional services. Key words: stress. cope. stress management. education. self control. stress control, environment. work stress: organization stress. community stress. health. wellness. neurological exercise. physical exercise. physiological exercise. religion. humor. feeding. free radicals. anti-osidants. and diet. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

An investigation into stress experience and the use of coping skills by departemental heads of schools: guidelines for support. Stress occurs when one's perception of demands exceeds his perception of his abilities to meet them. Except for work related demands, a variety of demands and threats in the environment have to be faced continuously. As a result stress is created that manifest in people's behavior, work efficiency and socialization. In general, the education profession is considered among the most stressful careers in the world. This also applies to the South African educational system. U'hm teachers experience stress, it has a negative effect on their beloved ones. colleagues and the learners. Therefore teacher stress has a negative effect on the teaching system in general. Thus teacher stress can be considered to be a national problem. The real situation of teachers in South Africa was determined by means of an empirical study that \\as complimented by a qualitative investigation. In this study. stress is dealt with from the educational psychology. However. stress is a holistic multi-dimensional concept that can only by understood at best when it is approached from a multi-professional point of view. Equally all the actions to cope with stress are rnultidimensional actions. This research aims to develop among teachers an awareness of stress manifestations. with the purpose to identi6 and control stressors. These actions are strengthened by appropriate adaptations in life style and the management of resources. A comprehensive support program is suggested to guide teachers towards an understanding and control of stress. and the establishment of a social support system. while serious manifestations of stress should be addressed by means of professional services. Key words: stress. cope. stress management. education. self control. stress control, environment. work stress: organization stress. community stress. health. wellness. neurological exercise. physical exercise. physiological exercise. religion. humor. feeding. free radicals. anti-osidants. and diet. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie navorsingstudie was om te bepaal of daar 'n verwantskap tussen stres en die persoonlikheidsweerstandsbronne koherensiesin, gehardheid en lokus van beheer is. Middelvlakbestuurders (n=103) het selfbeoordelingsvraelyste oor stres, sin vir koherensie, gehardheid en lokus van beheer voltooi. Die resultate van die Pearson produkmoment korrelasie en chi-kwadraattoetse toon dat daar 'n statisties beduidende verwantskap tussen stres en koherensiesin, gehardheid en lokus van beheer is. Dit blyk dat middelvlakbestuurders met 'n sterk koherensiesin beter in staat is om stres te hanteer as bestuurders met 'n lae koherensiesin. Hierdie bestuurders maak dus sin uit werkstressors en beskou lewenseise as betekenisvol en uitdagend. Die resultate dui aan dat bestuurders met 'n hoe inteme lokus van beheer en outonomie minder stres ervaar en beter toegerus is om die negatiewe invloed van stres teen te werk as bestuurders met 'n lae lokus van beheer en outonomie. Volgens hierdie navorsing het gehardheid nie 'n invloed op die ervaring van stress. / The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between stress and the resiliency sources of sense of coherence, hardiness and locus of control. Managers (N=l 03) at middle management level completed self-report questionnaires on stress, sense of coherence, hardiness and locus of control. Results from the Pearson product moment correlation and chisquare tests, indicate a statistical significant relationship between stress and sense of coherence, hardiness and locus of control. It seems as if managers at middle management level with a strong sense of coherence experience lower levels of stress than managers with a low sense of coherence. These managers derive sense from work stressors and view life's demands as meaningful and challenging. These results indicate that managers with a strong internal locus of control and autonomy will be better equipped to cope with stress than managers with a low locus of control and autonomy. According to this study hardiness does not have an effects on stress. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

Die doelwit van hierdie navorsing was om die ervaring van stres deur vroulike werknemers van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) te ondersoek. Die Wet op Gelyke Indiensneming (Wet 55 van 1998), het vroue geïdentifiseer as deel van voorheen benadeelde groepe in ons land, Die arbeidsmark is hierdeur ook vir vroue toeganklik gemaak. Beroepsvroue word oorlaai deur veeleisende rolle. Hulle is dikwels enkelouers wat in hul beroepe gehaltewerk moet lewer terwyl hulle ook soms versorgers van familielede is. Die Werk- en Leefomstandighedevraelys (WLV) en biografiese vraelys is as navorsingsinstrumente aangewend om vlakke en oorsake van stres by SAPD-vroue te meet. Die resultate het aangedui dat beide groepe op loopbaanaangeleenthede hoë stresvlakke ervaar. Vroue in operasionele posisies het hoë stresvlakke ervaar rakende werktoerusting, organisatoriese eise, vergoeding en ander byvoordele. Vroeë loopbaangerigtheid en loopbaanbeplanning kan stres van vroulike SAPD-lede verminder. Die aanspreek van pos-spesifieke faktore kan stresvlakke van SAPD-vroue in operasionele posisies verder verlaag. / This study aimed to investigate the experience of stress among female staff of the South African Police Service (SAPS). The Employment Equity Act (Act 55 of 1998), identified females as part of previously disadvantaged groups in our country, and opened the labour market, including the SAPS, to women. Employed females are often overburdened by their demanding roles, being expected to deliver quality work in addition to bearing the responsibilities as single parents and carers for relatives. The Experience of Work and Life Circumstances Questionnaire (EWLQ) and a biographical questionnaire were utilised for measuring the levels and causes of stress among female SAPS staff. The results indicated that both groups experienced high stress levels in one dimension, namely career opportunities. Females in operational roles experienced high stress levels regarding resoures, organisational demands, remuneration and benefits. Early career orientation and planning may reduce the stress experienced by female staff of the SAPS. / Dept. of Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Bedryf- en Organisasiesielkunde)

The research posed two questions, namely (a) how much stress, if any, is experienced by house mothers in a childrens' home, and (b) which factors cause such stress. The methodology employed is descriptive research. It covered the total population of ten house mothers in a childres' home. Measuring instruments employed were; the Heimler scale for Social Functioning, the Glazer Stress Control Life Style Questionnaire, the Stress Questionnaire, and a self-formulated questionnaire. The results are as follows: 70% reported average to high stress, but are inclined to deny stress. 30% reported normal stress levels, Possible causes of stress are the work context of the childrens' home, age, period of service, and personality. / Die studie soek antwoorde op twee vrae, naamlik (a) hoeveel sires, indien enige, beleef huismoeders in 'n kinderhuis, en (b) wat veroorsaak sulke sires? Die metode wat gebruik was, is beskrywende navorsing. Die totale populasie van tien huismoeders in die spesifieke kinderhuis is betrek. Die klein omvang maak hierdie studie nie veralgemeenbaar nie. Die volgende meetinstrumente is benut ; die Heimlerskaal vir Maatskaplike Funksionering, die "Glazer Stress Control Life Style Questionnaire'', die "Stress Questionnaire", en 'n selfgeformuleerde vraelys. Die resultate is soos volg: 70% van die huismoeders in die studie vermeld gemiddelde tot hoe mates van stres, maar is geneig om stres te ontken. Dertig persent van die respondente vermeld normale hoeveelhede stres. Moontlike oorsake van sires is aangetoon as: die werkskonteks binne die kinderhuis, ouderdom, tydperk van diens, en persoonlikheid / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work: Mental Health)

Job insecurity in the workplace has become an increasingly important trend in organisational research. The appraisal of job insecurity by individuals plays a significant part in how reactions manifest in the experiences of workplace stressors, job satisfaction, positive and negative work attributes and social support. However, there is a lack of research regarding specific workplace stressors at work leading to certain outcomes like safety behaviour, turnover intention and mental health, especially within a South African working context. Job insecurity has also been classified as a workplace stressor. The existence of other stressors tends to increase the ultimate effect of insecurity for the individual. The attempts from organisational management to manage this phenomenon are therefore crucial in decreasing the negative effects of job insecurity and increasing the productivity of the organisation. In order to measure the job insecurity levels of employees, it is important to make use of valid and reliable job insecurity measures. An absence of empirical research on validity and reliability studies in terms of job insecurity in South African is evident. The main objectives of this research were: 1) to establish the psychometric properties of a measure of job insecurity in a selected gold mining company in South Africa; 2) to determine the influence of job insecurity and work stress (i.e. role conflict, clarity and overload) on worker safety performance and if coping could moderate this; 3) to investigate the theoretical and empirical relationships between job stressors (task completion ambiguity and task quality ambiguity), competency demands, employability perceptions, job satisfaction and turnover intention over time, and 4) to investigate if social support has a mediating effect between positive interpersonal attributes, negative interpersonal attributes, job insecurity and subsequent health. To achieve the first objective, a cross-sectional design was used (N = 566), including various business units of a South African-based gold mining company. The assessment of the psychometric properties of a measure of quantitative and qualitative job insecurity for employees was determined through construct (structural) equivalence, exploratory factor analysis and multivariate analysis of variance to calculate the comparison of the factor structure for the different cultural groups. For qualitative job insecurity, the scale shows low equivalence for the African languages group. Statistically significant differences were found between the levels of job insecurity of employees in terms of gender. The second objective, concerning the investigation into the relationship of work stress and job insecurity with unsafe behaviour at work, was achieved with across-sectional survey design (N = 771). The hypothesised model included the influence of role conflict, role ambiguity, role overload, and job insecurity on unsafe work behaviour. Coping was introduced as a moderator in this relationship. The results indicated that when employees experience work stress and job insecurity, their safety compliance is low. This relationship was also moderated by a coping strategy of Avoidance. To achieve the third objective, a longitudinal study was conducted and data was gathered by means of an electronic survey, with 771 employees participating at Time 1, and 345 participating at Time 2. Results for predicting employees’ turnover intentions, experience of task completion and quality ambiguity, external employability and job satisfaction made a direct contribution in predicting their turnover intention. No mediating role of job satisfaction between job stressors, competency demands and employability perceptions on the one hand and turnover intentions on the other hand, were found. Addressing the fourth objective in investigating the moderating role of social support between the relationship of experiencing positive interpersonal (communication with the manager and feedback), negative interpersonal experiences (powerlessness and interpersonal conflict), job insecurity (quantitative and qualitative) and health, was met with a longitudinal random sample of employees in different business units in one selected multi-national mining company based in South Africa (N = 771). Results for these employees indicated that all the proposed variables, except feedback from the manager, were statistically significantly related to health. No moderating effect for social support could be found over time, but it was shown that interpersonal conflict at work is a longitudinal predictor of employee health. By way of conclusion, the implications of the research were discussed and recommendations for managers and for future research were made. / Thesis (PhD (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.